Using rodents as food has a long tradition in many parts of the world

The idea of rearing and eating rodents as “mini‐livestock” might sound unpalatable to many Westerners, but rodent meat has a long culinary tradition in other parts of the world and could become an important component of sustainable global agriculture.

Innovations in the life sciences' approach to export control suggest there are ways to disrupt biological weapons development by rogue states and terrorist groups without impeding research

1Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Monterey, CA, USA

Export controls were important during the Cold War to prevent the Warsaw Pact states from acquiring advanced technology and weapons. Today, the fear that terrorist groups could acquire the means to develop biological weapons of mass destruction has rekindled interest in export control measures for biological technologies and knowledge.

The current revival of Bernalism and the use of market‐based scientific practices are undermining science as we know it

In the 1930s, under the influence of Marxism, John Bernal and others proposed that the state should wholly control the goals of science. Such control never came to pass in the West, but a modern version of Bernalism is again threatening the freedom of research, hiding under the guise of requiring scientists to address societal problems.

Research into the characteristics that are unique to an individual is addressing the need to correctly identify people in a variety of medical, social and security contexts

Biometric measurements have the potential to improve both security and convenience in many areas of our daily lives, including in health care and social services. Researchers are exploring new biometric characteristics that could be used to develop full‐proof methods to assess and validate someone's identity.

A proposed plan to rescue US biomedical research from its current ‘malaise’ will not be effective as it misdiagnoses the root cause of the disease

A group of prominent scientists and science administrators recently published a plan for rescuing US biomedical research from what they have identified as an incapacitating and widespread malaise. The plan is unlikely to work because it misdiagnoses the root cause of the disease. The author suggests a new diagnosis.

IP schemes could play an important role in fostering Responsible Research and Innovation in synthetic biology to find solutions for societal problems. The iGEM could become a proving ground to test how IP and open source can influence research.

Sacred and secular biotech production

Biotech companies increasingly seek certification for compliance with religious and dietary requirements in order to address new consumer markets. Technology plays a crucial role in such inspections alongside centuries old traditions and practices.

In developing countries, participation in clinical trials is sometimes the only way to access medical treatment. What should be done to avoid exploitation of disadvantaged populations?

Many pharmaceutical companies conduct clinical trials in low‐ and middle‐income countries. While such trials can benefit their participants, they can also be exploitative and therefore need careful regulation to ensure that they are done in an ethically responsible manner.

Advertising science as a driver of economic growth is a long‐term losing strategy

Many scientists make the argument that research funding is worthwhile because it drives economic growth. However, economic growth is neither reliable or sustainable, so the strategy could backfire and damage science in the long term.

A more strategic and broader research framework could boost the development of new drugs to modify epigenetic factors and gene expression

Drugs that modify or shut down the expression of disease‐related genes through epigenetic tinkering hold great promise, but are few and far between. To better understand and exploit the mechanisms of epigenetic gene regulation, research and drug discovery in this area is becoming more strategic and more organized.